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Brought to you by Bromsgrove AdvertiserWestfields 3
Rovers 0
Worcester Infirmary Cup round two

ROVERS were summarily discharged from the competition by their Hereford-based opponents who were often sharper and certainly more aggressive throughout.

Fielding a youthful and relatively inexperienced line-up, sprinkled with a few first team players, Rovers were generally second best in a testing first half at allpay Park - especially after conceding an early goal.

However, they rallied after the break and played some neat football at times without getting the reward they deserved.

Having gone behind in the seventh minute when Paul Price's speculative effort threaded its way through a crowded penalty area and went in off a post, Rovers found it difficult to find any cohesion in midfield or up front.

And once Westfields took a stranglehold on proceedings with a second goal, a simple 19th minute tap-in for Matt Aubrey after Chris Taylor could only parry Chris Jefferson's fierce 20-yarder, it was always going to be a difficult night.

They might have gone further behind as the lively Aubrey gave Rovers' defence a testing time, but they kept their concentration thanks to the efforts of Mike Parsons and Chris McHale in the heart of the defence and looked to be still in the game as they showed greater organisation and more comfort on the ball in the early part of the second half.

In attack Ben Albutt's tireless chasing and willingness to find space warranted more support than was forthcoming and consequently Jon Pugh in the home goal was rarely called into serious action on a freezing night until late on.

The experienced and industrious Cornes always appeared to be the player who might bring Rovers back into contention but when goalkeeper Taylor made a terrible blunder in the 67th minute it was definitely game over!

Taking possession of the ball out of his area and in no real danger, he delayed his clearance and his dithering allowed Aubrey to race in, dispossess him and run the ball into an empty net.

Rovers did come close in the closing stages to gaining what would have been purely a consolation goal, mainly from set-pieces. Carl Martin hit the woodwork with one free kick, Cornes tested Pugh with a 20 yard effort and right on the whistle substitute Matt Birley forced Pugh to a diving save.

Westfields, who fielded virtually their entire Midlands Alliance side, did let their aggression spill over at one stage when they had three players booked in a five minute spell early in the seond half. Rovers also had a couple of players booked - Jorma Seabourne for a late challenge and Cornes for dissent.

9:26am Wednesday 13th February 2008

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